Nut rush
Scleria scrobiculata

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A sedge. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. The stalks are 1-2.5 m tall and 4-10 mm thick. They are 3 sided. The leaves are in rings of 2-5 in the middle of the stalk. The sheaths are 4-6 cm long. The leaf blade is 40 cm long by 1 cm wide. The flowering shoots are branched panicles with 2-3 spikelets in a cluster. The nutlets are white and round and 2-3 mm long. They are slightly 3 sided.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In south China it grows in broad-leaved evergreen forests between 100-300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young tops and fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Tips, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Tafatolu

Synonyms

Scleria approximata Hassk.; and others